Luke Cage is on the war ravaged parking garage roof when the police arrive with guns in hand. After Clair corroborates that Luke was there helping her escape and not associated with Diamondback, the police are more friendly.

Luke and Doctor Noah Burstein meet, Luke questions him about whether Dr. Burstein will turn him in to the police. The doctor wants to talk after Luke is finished answering the questions from the police. Luke lets his mind wander to a time when Dr. Burstein experimented on him for cell regeneration and how he was transformed.

Back at the office of Dr. Burstein, the doctor tells him why he needs to follow the law and turn him in. Luke argues that he's lost a woman he loves and years of his life to the law not working right for him. Dr. Burstein says that he won't turn him in but he will keep an eye on him. Luke storms out ignoring Claire's invitation to come over.

Late into the night while D.W. and Luke are hanging out an exhausted man comes through the door. The man's name is Owen Ridgely. Luke suspects that something serious must be wrong for someone to come running into his office this late at night and he asks D. W. to leave for safety reasons.

Mr Ridgely tells Luke that as a former Vietnam Vet he couldn't get a job. Disgruntled, he met with other vets who experienced similar things and they were contacted by a Colonel named Gideon Mace. Colonel Mace wanted to shut down New York City for a day by taking over all exits and entries into the city. He was in favor of this terrorist act until he overheard the real reason for these veterans taking over the city. Now he wants Luke to help him stop it.

They are interrupted by D.W., who is being held hostage by two of Mace's men. Luke and the men fight in the hallway of his building where Luke easily wins. However, Gideon Mace sent 3 men, 2 in the hallway and 1 up the fire exit. The man on the fire exit shoots Owen before Luke knows that he's even there. As he is drawing his last breath, Owen gives Luke all the money that Mace gave him. "stop...Mace..."

At Gideon's base of operations we learn that the veterans are going to blow up bridges and power stations all over New York. We also find out Gideon's true plan, while the police are distracted with major terrorist acts, he will steal from Wall Street. Luke and Gideon Mace fight and Mace thinks that he's eliminate Mr. Cage. But Cage jumps for the helicopter that Gideon is escaping on. While over the Hudson River Luke destroys the rear propeller. Luke dives into the river but Mace's heavy metal "hand" causes him to sink to the murky depths.

Being more noble than he cares to admit, Luke sent the money Owen gave him to Ridgely's widow with no return address.

-Ron C.

---